Hi My wife has been to see a endocrine specialist privately here in Northern Ireland as her Doctor would not sent her via the NHS and was very reluctant to write a referral letter. She has had bloods done and the specialist says she has Hashimoto decease. She has been prescribed Liothyronine 5mg but we are unable to get this prescribed treatment on the NHS and have been told that it is very expensive to purchase in the UK and I am lead to believe that it can be purchased at a much lower price for Germany. Could someone please advice us as to which pharmacy they have used and how reputable they are. Many Thanks
Liothyronine 5mg: Hi My wife has been to see a... - Thyroid UK
Liothyronine 5mg
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Ban1960
Details of German pharmacies in this article on ThyroidUK's website, lots of members use them, be quick though as Brexit may affect things
thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...
But prescriptions for those have to be written
Liothyronine 20mcg 100 tablets
I don't know if they can supply 5mcg ones, I seem to think they don't.
There is much information on Thyroid UK ---- see the following links.
Thyroid Hormone Replacements
thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...
Where Can I Get Desiccated Thyroid Hormone?
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So far as I am aware, 5 microgram liothyronine tablets are just about only produced in the USA. All the USA makes produce them.
Occasionally you might see a specials lab or similar producing small quantities - e.g. in the Netherlands - but under very restrictive terms.
dropbox.com/s/q00vyt5703f4u...
These are the ones that Hashihouseman gets
sigmapharm.com/products/lio...
I know of at least one other gets 5mcg T3 prescribed on NHS
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For full Thyroid evaluation we need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with Hashimoto's
Has your wife had vitamins tested?
Vitamin levels need to be optimal for Liothyronine or Levothyroxine
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
(If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.
So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...
Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Hi We have just received the report back from the specialist. It’s a bit difficult to make out his writing but i will give it a go. Vitamin D T4 22.2 TSH 0.02 vitamin B12 280 Folate 4.1 Iron profile nil or none & Anti TPO 191. Thanks I hope this can be deciphered.
Well you need the ranges on these results to accurately decipher.
Vitamin D - no result
FT4 22. Need the range, but it's likely near top, or just over range. Most FT4 top of ranges is somewhere between 17-24
TSH - clearly low. Many GP's or endo's don't like suppressed TSH
FT3 - most important test, no result
B12 - 280
essential to know if this is active B12 or serum B12. Most likely serum B12 unless it was a private test
If it's serum B12 it's low, should be at least over 500
Folate 4.1 No range. But likely to be low in range
TPO antibodies 191. Need the range. Most common is anything over 34 is positive for Hashimoto's
No ferritin or iron test results
So you need to get the ranges on these results
FT3 tested at same time as a TSH and FT4 and ferritin as absolute minimum
If B12 and folate are low, Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial.
chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...
B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast
Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks ).
Or Jarrow B-right is popular choice, but is large capsule
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
Good info about why low vitamin D and low B vitamins may be linked
drgominak.com/sleep/vitamin...
Suggest you get full Thyroid and vitamin testing privately
Hi My wife’s vitamin levels have been checked and she is now taking vitamin D as this was showing to be low. She is taking Levothyroxine 175. for the last 5 years but this has made no difference how she feels. Thanks
Ban 1960
What was her Vit D level?
How much D3 is she taking?
Is this prescribed?
Is she also taking D3's important cofactors - particularly magnesium and Vit K2-MK7?
What are her other vitamin results - B12, Folate, Ferritin?
What are her thyroid results - TSH, FT4 and FT3?
Is she addressing the Hashi's by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here (no guarantee but worth a try).
Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks.
You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.
Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...
stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...
hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.
Hi Ban1960, I’m from NI but I live in England. I have been trying to get my mum to see a private Endo for years because she is very under treated. Can you PM who you saw? Maybe if I am more specific about WHO she could see then she might do that.
I’m in the same boat as your wife, Hashi’s, T4 only and hoping to get T3 but it’s through a private Endo, NHS won’t treat.
Can you delete your comment 😱 We can make consultant names public without their consent 😬
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Please do not identify doctors by name on the forum. Send a Private Message to the person asking.
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